The range of damage varies in local homes after heavy rainfall and widespread flooding throughout the week.
Local repair businesses have been seeing a large influx of calls relating to damages in the home, specifically basements. Jason Spellman of Plumbing by Spellman says the issues differ from home to home.
For some, it is as simple as a basement being full of rainwater, but for others:
Spellman explains when it comes to sewage water versus rainwater the costs of repair often rise due to the amount of work required. As opposed to regular water damage, in which the carpet can be removed, dried and reset, damage from sewer waters require the entire carpet and padding to be removed and replaced.
Stover Restoration’s Tara Barnett says her crews have seen similar issues.
Underground Utilities Supervisor Mike Dvorak says the influx of water was too much for parts of the sewer network to handle, although the situation has largely resolved itself. Dvorak says much of the downtown issues should be resolved as the city continues its sewer renovation project into early next year.
Calls have come in by the hundreds to local basement repair businesses this week. Kent Grieder of Burnham Basement and Foundation Repair says the backlog currently is about two weeks from this round of flooding, and he says there are immediate steps people can take both inside and outside the house to clear the water.
Barnett and Spellman, both caution homeowners and landlords to be sure they have the flooding root issues resolved before the call for help. Spellman urges individuals to check sump pumps and ensure they are running properly.
Barnett says some homes have been cleared but then reflooded because of sump pump failures. You can test sump pumps by running water through it to see if water is being pumped out properly.
